Housing assembly for spinning reel



July 28, 1970 R. D. HULL 3,521,830

HOUSING ASSEMBLY FOR SPINNING REEL l Original Filed July 28, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet .i

FIG. 1

INVENTOR laA DELL HULL ATroRNgYs July 28, 1970 R. D. HULL 3,521,830

HOUSING ASSEMBLY FOR SPINNNG REEL Original Filed July 28, 1965 l .%`r.UeL--Sheet i INVENTOR. Rk DELL HULL ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,521,830 HOUSING ASSEMBLY FOR SPINNING REEL R. Dell Hull, 6101 E. Apache St., Tulsa, Okla. 74115 Original application July 28, 1965, Ser. No. 475,365, now Patent No. 3,416,746, dated Dec. 17, 1968. Divided and this application Oct. 15, 1968, Ser. No. 767,639

Int. Cl. A01k 89/00 U.S. Cl. 242-842 3 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure is directed to cover locking arrangements for closed face spinning reels of the type having front and rear cup-shaped covers which engage a reel frame body having a circular transverse wall. The covers are locked in a nested relation with flanges of the frame by insertion of locking pins formed on the frame into slots formed in the covers by the engagement of buttons formed on the covers with the head of a locking screw threaded into the frame body.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of copending application Ser. No. 475,365, led July 28, 1965, now Pat. No. 3,416,746.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates to fishing reels and more particularly to improvements in spinning reels of the socalled closed face type. In this type of spinning reel, the line spool is mounted on a reel frame and enclosed within a casing normally provided with a front portion or cover, which may be of conical or concave form having a central opening or eye through which the line travels as it moves forwardly over the front face or flange of the line spool in passage to and from the spool, the line opening being ordinarily co-axial with the axis of the spool. Reels of this general type are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,059,873.

In spinning reels of the general type so described, a normally non-rotatable line spool is mounted on a hub for limited slippage or drag relative to the reel frame body to accommodate controlled withdrawal of line from the spool by a fish to prevent Ibreakage of the line.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION An important aspect of the present invention is the provision of an improved housing assembly for a closed face reel of the type including front and rear covers nested within peripheral flanges axially extending from the reel frame body. Specifically, each of the front and rear covers is provided with an axially extending slot and a diametrically opposed, radially projecting button at marginal portions thereof. The slotted portions of the covers are engaged by radially projecting locating pins positioned at inner surfaces of the peripheral flanges of the reel frame, while an annular locking groove formed at the underside of a cover lock screw disposed at that top of the frame traps the buttons to lock the covers to the reel frame. Loosening of the cover lock screw raises the locking groove to free the buttons, thereby releasing the front and rear covers simultaneously and with a minimum of effort.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of the present invention and its attendant advantages, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational View, with parts broken 3,521,830 Patented July 28, 1970 away to sho-w details of construction, of an improved shing reel construction embodying the principles of the in- Veution;

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the improved reel taken along line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the reel taken along line 3 3 of FIG. 2, showing the new drag brake arrangement;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are transverse, cross-sectional views of the reel taken along lines 4 4 and 5 5, respectively, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cover lock screw;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view showing the disposition of the cover lock screw in the reel frame body; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 8 8 of FIG. 5 to show more clearly certain details of construction of the line spool.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the fishing reel of the present invention includes a reel frame body 10 having a substantially circular, transverse wall 11 from which axially extending front and rear peripheral flanges 12, 13 project. The llanges 12, 13 are substantially continuous, being interrupted only by an upper axial opening 14 extending thereacross (FIG. 7). The reel frame includes a reinforced base portion 15 supporting front and rear cover pins 16, 17 projecting radially inwardly through lower portions of the front and rear peripheral anges 12, 13, and a diametrically opposed cover lock screw 18 disposed in the opening 14 and threaded into the Wall 11. An integral reel supporting plate 19' extends from the base portion 15.

At the front face 2.0 of the transverse wall 11 (FIG. 4), a circular recess 21 is dened concentrically with an axial bore 22 which supports a rotatable and axially slidable main shaft 23 (FIG. 3). The frame body also includes an integral, forwardly projecting cylindrical hub 24 upon which a normally non-rotatable line spool 25 is mounted concentrically with the main shaft 23. More specifically, the main shaft 23 is stepped, having forward portions 23a of greater diameter than its rearward portions 23b. A notched line pickup head 26, including a line braking element 27, is carried by the forward end of the main shaft for rotation and axial movement there-with. A pinion 28 is keyed to the main shaft by a flat 29 formed thereon. As shown, the shaft is maintained under a rearward bias by a coil spring 30 acting between the pinion and a clip 31 (FIG. 2) fixed to a rearwardmost portion of the shaft.

Positive rotation of the main shaft 23 may be effected through a ring gear 32 carried by the inner end of a crank shaft 33 which is mounted in a rearwardly projecting Iboss 34 integral with the frame 10. A ratchet gear 35 is also carried by the crank shaft 33 and is adapted to cooperate with an anti-reverse pawl 36 and a click linger 37, selectively operated by a control lever 38 in a manner set forth in greater detail in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,059,873. Manual rotation of the crank 33 to retrieve paid out line is accomplished through a handle 77 mounted on its distal end.

The line spool 25 includes parallel front and rear walls i 71, 72, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, forward portions of the spool are surrounded by a double flange 73, the outer portion 73a of which extends parallel to the horizontal axis of the reel and decreases the effective width of the mouth of the spool. This decreases the axial travel required to move the pickup head 26 between the forward, casting position in which the notches 26a of the pickup head are clear of line traveling thereover and a rearward, line retrieval position at central portions of the spool (FIG. l) in which the notches are exposed to the line. With this arrangement, the reel assembly may be made more compact without any reduction of the line carrying capacity of the spool. For improved operation of the reel, it is particularly advantageous that the inner portion 7311 of the dou-ble flange 73 be tapered approximately with respect to the longitudinal axis of the reel and that it extend from the front spool wall 71 at a radius greater than that of the maximum level of the line L, as shown in FIG. 3.

A drag brake is provided for accommodating limited rotation or slippage of the line spool relative to the reel frame to permit a hooked fish to exert a pulling force on the line without causing its failure. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the line spool 25 includes a rearwardly projecting annular friction surface 39 disposed within the circular recess 21 and held seated therein and against the wall 11 by a C-clip 40 on the forwardly projecting cylindrical hub 24. A radially directed rectangular opening 42 of suicient length to intersect the circular recess 21 is provided in the transverse wall 11 of the reel frame. The spool 25, through its friction surface 39, is controllably restrained from rotation by a drag lbrake shoe 41 which is radially displaceable within the rectangular opening 42.

More specifically, the shoe is a plastic block which advantageously has an inner arcuate face 45 in general conformity with the contour of the annular surface 39 of the line spool. A pair of grooves 46 are formed in the side walls of the shoe in order that it may be keyed to guide tracks 43 formed on the side walls 44 of the opening 42 for translation therealong. The brake shoe also includes an internally threaded bore 47 which is engaged by a screw jack actuator 49. As shown best in FIG. 3, the screw jack actuator is stepped and includes an enlarged, knurled head 50, a threaded (right-handed) drive portion 51, and an enlarged shank portion `52.

Novel arrangements, claimed in said copending application Ser. No. 475,365, have been provided to provide varying degrees of ybraking force through the brake shoe 41 to the annular surface 39. To that end, a coil spring 53 acts radially between a pinned stop 54 in the shank portion of the actuator `49 and the reel frame 10 and urges the actuator and brake shoe inwardly, maintaining the shoe in a normal on position in which it bears against the line spool. Therefore, counterclockwise rotation of the actuator 49, with the brake shoe in the on position, will cause the threaded drive portion 51 of the actuator 49 to tend to back out of the shoe 41 (the shoe being prevented from radial inward translation in the opening by virtue of its engagement with the friction surface 39) causing the compression of the spring 53 and a consequent increase in the braking force. Continued counterclockwise rotation of the actuator 49 will variably increase the braking force until the spring 53 is fully compressed and the braking force is maximized. Ad vantageously, selective, ne adjustment of the degree of drag exerted by the brake shoe 41 against the friction surface 39 of the spool (variation of the compression in the spring 53) may be had within one or two turns of the screw jack actuator `49. Of course, clockwise rotation of the actuator tends to reduce the degree of braking force.

Since the brake shoe is keyed within the opening 42 by the tracks 43, further clockwise rotation of the actuator tends to drive the shoe radially outward along the tracks 43 and effects the withdrawal of the brake shoe from contact with the annular surface 39 of the line spool. As will be understood, rotation in this direction may be continued until the shoe is Completely withdrawn from the shoulder of the spool and the shoe is stopped against the shank 52 (FIG. 4). In this position, the drag brake is off and no restraint is imposed upon the line spool 25. A counterclockwise rotation of the knurled head of the actuator will, of course, cause the shoe to be advanced inwardly along the tracks 43 returning it into the on position.

A drag alarm mechanism is incorporated into the reel structure. To that end, a series of spaced ratchet-like teeth 74 (FIGS. 5 and 8), arrayed concentrically with the annular friction surface 39, are formed within the rear wall 72 of the line Spool 25 while a pawl-like, flexible arm 75, advantageously a cantilevered leaf spring, is disposed in and projects axially forwardly from a rectangular recess '76 formed in the front face 20 of the wall 11 (FIG. 4) at a radial position coincident with that of the ratchet teeth. Thus, when the spool is rotated or dragged about the hub 24 by a hooked fish paying out line L, the pawl-like arm will repeatedly engage the ratchet teeth 74 and strikingly drop olf into the valley portions 74a therebetween to provide an audible sound or alarm indicative of a strike by a fish. As will be appreciated, the components of the alarm mechanism are physically disposed within facing, abutting walls of two of the main elements of the reel, the spool and reel frame. Accordingly, the drag alarm mechanism may be incorporated into the reel assembly without enlarging its size.

The above-described reel assembly is enclosed by a cup-shaped front cover 60, including a central opening or eye 61 through which the line L may travel and a cupshaped rear cover 62 including a pivotable thumb plate i63 for moving the shaft 23 into forward line braking and casting positions from a rearward retrieval position as is conventional in reels of this type.

In accordance with the present invention, the cylindrical walls of the covers are of a diameter slightly less than that of the peripheral flanges of the frame body and include raised buttonlike projections 64, 65 and `diametrically opposed slots 66, 67 at their marginal edges. The covers 60, 62 may be readily assembled to the reel frame 10 to complete the closed-face assembly by placing the slots 66, 67 over the projecting pins 16, 17, thereby forming a hinge, and pivoting the covers thereabout until the edges of the cover flanges abut the faces of the reel frame. In this position the covers 60, 62 are closely embraced by the frame flanges y12, 13 in a nested relation (FIG. 3) and the buttonlike projections 64, 65 are disposed in the opening 14. Pursuant to the teachings of the present invention and as shown in FIG. 7, the opening 14 includes narrow, rectangular throat portions `at its ends accommodative of the projections 64, 65 and wide, circular portions at its center accommodative of the lock screw 18.

In accordance 4with the principles of the invention, the covers 60, 62 are securely locked in place by the special lock screw 18 which has an annular groove or recess 69 formed in the underside of its head 70. Tightening down of the locking screw traps both of the locking buttons 64, 65 in vthe annular groove 69 to hold the covers firmly in place. Conversely, both of the covers may be simply and rapidly released for removal from the frame by loosening the screw to retract the recess 60` to a position clear of the projecting buttons. Advantageously, the locking and releasing travel of the lock screw 18 may be no more than a few turns.

It should be appreciated that the ne'w cover locking arrangement may be incorporated into the design of many different types of closed face spinning reels to simplify their operation, an attribute of extreme importance in the construction of reels for children and other novice fishermen. Moreover, the new cover lock structures of the invention may be manufactured with minimum expense.

It should be understood that the spinning reel herein illustrated and specifically described is intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A fishing reel comprising (a) a central circular reel frame supporting a line spool, rotatable pickup head, and associated reel control mechanism thereon,

(b) said reel frame having peripheral circumferential flanges projecting forwardly and rearwardly thereof,

(c) locking pins projecting radially inwardly from said peripheral flanges,

(d) a locking screw having an engaging head portion defining an annular recess at the underside thereof being threadedly engaged with said reel frame at portions diametrically opposed to said predetermined locations of said locking pins,

(e) cup-shaped front and rear covers having annular flanges of predetermined diameter not substantially less than the diameter of said peripheral reel frame flanges,

(f) Ieach of said covers defining an axially extending slot adjacent the edges of its flanges,

g) button means formed at the external surfaces of said cover flanges at portions diametrically opposed to said slots,

(h) whereby said covers may be locked to said reel frame through the cooperation of said locking pins with said slots and the cooperation of said buttons with said annular recess of said locking screw.

2. A housing for a closed face fishing reel including (a) a reel frame body having a generally circular transverse wall,

(b) forwardly and rearwardly projecting peripheral flanges extending axially from said wall,

(c) cup-shaped front and rear covers having generally cylindrical flange portions nestable within said peripheral flanges of said frame body,

(d) each of said covers defining an axially extending slot at an edge of its flange and diametrically opposite said slot, each of said covers also defining a radially projecting button,

(e) a cover locking pin projecting radially inwardly from each of said peripheral frame flanges,

(f) a cover locking screw having a head disposed within the cylindrical envelope of said frame flanges,

`( g) said screw having an enlarged head portion adapted to engage said buttons,

(h) whereby said covers may be locked in a nested relation 'with said frame flanges by the insertion of said locking pins into said slots and the engagement of said buttons by the head of said locking screw.

3. A housing in accordance with claim 2, in which (a) the underside of said enlarged head portion of the locking screw defines an annular recess.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,903,202 9/ 1959 Sarah 242-842 3,020,666 2/ 1962 Hull 242-8421 XR 3,057,575 10/1962 Hull 242-842 BILLY S. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner 

